Other conditions Board decisions

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing VCAA notice.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for subcutaneous lumps and an initial evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD. The evidence did not support a finding that the current subcutaneous lumps were related to active service, and there was no indication of continuity of symptomatology. For PTSD, the Board found that symptoms met criteria but did not meet all criteria for a higher rating.

The Board found that the appellant is not a surviving spouse as defined by VA law and therefore, she is not eligible for death pension benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient VCAA notification and a need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records from the VA Outpatient Clinic in Baton Rouge and verifying the veteran's dates of service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the veteran's pulmonary disorders, including pleural fibrosis and rounded atelectasis, are likely related to his exposure to asbestos during service.

The veteran's death was caused by cancer of the intestine, which is not related to service. The claim for accrued benefits was untimely filed.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding service connection for residuals of cold injuries of the lower extremities, specifically degenerative joint disease of the first toes. The veteran's claim is pending further development and review.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for eligibility to VA education benefits before a decision was made.

The Board denied the claim for an earlier effective date for adding the veteran's spouse and child as dependents, finding that the earliest possible effective date is December 1, 2002.

The Board found that the retroactive reduction of payment for Chapter 30 educational benefits from 12 credit hours to 5 credits hours as of June 28, 2004 was proper and denied the veteran's appeal.

The Board found no evidence that the veteran's service-connected conditions caused or contributed to his death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have mitral valve prolapse or any other cardiac disorder manifested by chest pain due to military service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot condition has been reopened. His PTSD rating remains at 70 percent with retroactive effective date of June 30, 2005. The case is remanded to determine the etiology of his bilateral foot condition and whether it is related to military service.

The veteran's cause of death was listed as septic shock due to neutropenia and AML. The appellant is seeking service connection for the cause of her husband's death, claiming it was caused by exposure to Agent Orange during his active service in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the veteran's neck and back injuries are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a current disability related to these conditions. The shoulder injury claim was also denied.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not establish a new and material basis for reopening the claim of service connection for a back injury, as it is merely cumulative or duplicative of previous contentions.

The appellant and the veteran did not meet the legal requirements to be considered as a surviving spouse or children for VA benefits purposes. The Board found that there was no valid marriage between them, nor any evidence of cohabitation meeting the criteria for a deemed valid marriage under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a skin disability and therefore cannot establish service connection based on radiation exposure. As such, the claim is denied.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to metastatic hepatoma, finding that it did not manifest within one year after service and was not related to any aspect of service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference Board hearing. The issue of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a fracture of the great right toe remains pending.